BusinessWeek Mindanao (February 9-10, 2022)

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Volume XII, No. 102

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Briefly Exports deal THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it has entered into an agreement with online service provider 1Export to facilitate the global distribution of products made in the Philippines.

The DTI said in a statement on Monday that its Go Lokal!

Program is collaborating with 1Export’s Kalocal platform to launch a product known as the Go Lokal Surprise Box, a gift box containing Philippine products made by micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The box will be initially available in the US and Canada.

“This promotional initiative will help MSMEs transition to cross-border trade as it provides the opportunity for the world to discover Filipino culture through artisanal handicrafts and delectable treats,” DTI said.

IN-DEPTH

Wed-Thu|February 9-10, 2022

P15.00

Davao region investments down by 29.63% last year D

By ANTONIO L. COLINA IV, MindaNews

AVAO City -- Registered investments in Davao Region reached P3.49 billion in 2021, declining by 29.63% compared with P4.96 billion approved in 2020, an official of the National Economic D e v e l o p m e n t Au t h o r i t y (NEDA)-Davao reported.

Smuggled cigars ZAMBOANGA City – Government authorities have seized some P2.2 million worth of smuggled cigarettes here coming from Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, a top BOC official here announced Tuesday.

Segundo Sigmundfreud Barte Jr., the BOC - Zamboanga district collector, said the shipment of smuggled cigarettes was seized around 10 p.m. Sunday along R.T. Lim Boulevard in Barangay Zone 1.

Barte said they immediately coordinated with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) after receiving a report from the police’s Regional Special Operation Unit that a cargo truck loaded with smuggled cigarettes concealed in sacks of seaweed and dried fish was sighted along the boulevard.

PPEs FOR TRANSPORT COOPS. At least, 1441 boxes of PPEs, consisting of masks, face shields, gallons of alcohol and sanitizers, intended for transport cooperatives in Region 10, have been delivered from the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Office of Transportation Cooperatives (OTC) to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board 10 (LTFRB X) compound on Monday, Feb. 7, 2022. Distribution of the PPE to accredited TCs will soon follow. photo's by gerry lee gorit

BARMM accredits more halal certification companies EXPORTS of halal goods from the Muslim-majority Bangsamoro region are expected to expand with the licensing of more halal cer tif ication f irms and initiatives to boost trade links

with the Brunei-IndonesiaMalaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMPEAGA).

Prime Certification and Inspection (PC&I) Asia Pacific, Inc., whose parent

company is headquartered in Dubai, officially received its certification of registration on Feb. 3 from the Regional Bangsamoro B oard of Investments (BBoI), along HALAL/PAGE 7

MULTISECTOR AL organizations from the government and private e nt it i e s l au nche d he re Tuesday a campaign against online sexual abuse and exploitation of children

(OSAEC).

The #NotOnOurScreens campaign aims to cultivate a culture of vigilance against the trafficking of Filipino children through the creation and propagation of child

sexual exploitation material.

The campaign was jointly launched by the Department of Justice – Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (DOJ-IACAT); Philippine CAMPAIGN/PAGE 7

Multisectoral group launches campaign vs online sex trafficking

Reopening the economy ENSURING the continued reopening of the economy will benefit domestic inflation rate, which further slowed down to 3 percent in January 2022, an official of National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said on Friday.

The sustained deceleration of domestic rate of price increases in January, from month ago’s 3.2 percent, is among the positive economic developments in the domestic economy to date, according to NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon during the Palace virtual briefing “Going forward ang pinaka, kumbaga robust na na-move talaga natin is to revive the economy kasi kapag marami ang magpo-produce, magkakaroon tayo ng maraming supply. Ito talaga ang magpapa-stable ng ating mga presyo (Going forward, our most robust move is to revive the economy because if there will be strong production activities then there will be more supply.

This will help stable our prices),” she said.

NEDA-Davao director Maria Lourdes Lim told a virtual press conference broadcast live over the Philippine Information AgencyDavao’s Facebook page on Monday that the decline was caused by the lack of investments in the region’s key sectors.

She said no Board of Investments (BOI)approved projects were reported in real estate; manufacturing, administrative and support service activities; electricity, gas, steam, and air-conditioning supply; and agriculture, forestry, and fishing here last year.

She said that B OI expected lower investment outcomes as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic continues DOWN/PAGE 7

CDO to tap malls anew in vax rollout for children THE local government of Cagayan de Oro City will again be partnering with commercial establishments in the delivery of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccination rollout especially for children aged five to 11 years old.

In an online briefer Mon d ay, May or O s c a r

Moreno said one of the malls situated in CM Recto Avenue, has already committed to having a designated place for the children’s immunization activity.

"The SM Mall has a plan to use their children's corner for the pediatric vaccination," he said.

VAX/PAGE 7

CAMPAIGN PERIOD STARTS.. Young supporters of presidential candidate Leni Robredo pose for a photographer before the start of a motorcade in Iligan City on Tuesday (8 February 2022), signaling the start of the campaign period for candidates seeking national elective posts. mindanews photo by bobby timonera

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Camiguin named as PH's first drug-cleared province

CAMIGUIN--Bagging the Balangay Seal of Excellence award, the Province of Camiguin along with its five towns is named the first drugcleared province in the country, February 7.

"The easiest part of being a drug-cleared [community] has ended. You will now go to a harder part of sustaining your different barangays and different municipalities, your barangays as drugfree," Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Wilkins Villanueva said as he led the conferment of the said seal at the Camiguin Convention Center.

Recognizing the efforts of the Local Government Units of Catarman,

Guinsiliban, Mahinog, Mambajao, and Sagay to attain such feat, Villanueva said the towns will now need to monitor each and every citizen and tourist in their barangays to sustain a drug-free community.

"You should monitor all your tourist spots to make sure that their different hotels and resorts are implementing their own drug-free workplace policy," the director general added.

In order to do so, Villanueva suggested that LGUs should come up with a good reporting system as well as lead hotels and resorts in profiling drug users along with identifying different drugs.

Villanueva said Camiguin is not the first province to talk about CLEARED/PAGE 6

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WED-THU|FEBRUARY 9-10, 2022

DSWD releases P199-M aid to families hit by ‘Odette’ B UTUAN City – The Department of Social Welfare and Development – Caraga (DSWD-13) has so far released a total of P199,180,000 cash to families in the provinces of Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands that were badly affected by Typhoon Odette in December last year.

In a statement Tuesday, the DSWD-13 said a total of 39,83 families directly benefited from the cash assistance.

“The funds were released through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation

program of the agency,” the agency said.

In Dinagat Islands, a total of P80,970,000 in cash assistance was provided to 16,194 affected families as of Monday, it said.

In Surigao del Norte, P103,320,000 was also released to 20,664 families in Siargao Island and P14,890,000 to 2,978 families in the province’s mainland towns.

Meanwhile, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) - 13 said a total of 8,158.31 board feet of confiscated lumber products were handed over to Surigao del Norte Gov. Francisco

Matugas and First District Rep. Francisco Jose Matugas on February 6.

The lumber products will be distributed to the different typhoon-affected towns in Siargao Island.

The DENR-13 said two tables and circular saws, which form part of a mini-sawmill on wheels, were also deployed on the island.

It said the sawmill on wheels deployment is part of DENR’s Task Force Build Back Better initiative to assist in the restoration of damaged houses of residents and establishments on the island. (PNA)

50 Bangsamoro scholars complete tech-voc training, get tool kits MARAWI City -- At least 50 Bangsamoro scholars who came from vulnerable sectors in Lanao del Sur and Marawi City graduated from the "ANOGON KO PAGTAW: 2021 Bangsamoro Scholarship Program for Technical Vocational Education Training on Dressmaking and Bread and Pastry NCII".

The graduation rites of the program which was conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education- Technical Education and Skills Development (MBHTETESD) and the Office of Bangsamoro Member of Parliament (MP) Diamila Disimban-Ramos took place last January 20 at the Marawi Resort Hotel inside the Mindanao State University in Marawi City.

The skills training

which commenced on Nov. 8, 2021, has benefitted 25 scholars for the Dressmaking course which ran for 38 days, and 25 scholars for the Bread and Pastry course that ran for 21 days.

In addition, the scholars have undergone rigid training on basic skills in dressmaking and bread and pastry through blended learning such as Modules, faceto-face classes for the actual training, and Values Transformation Training facilitated by the Bangsamoro Development Agency.

In her welcome address, Ramos extended her warm felicitations to the 50 scholars who have endured all the struggles and successfully finished the skills training.

"To our graduates, may this BSPTVET programs

that you have undergone, capacitate and equip you with the necessary skills and hone your talents to become competitive and productive Bangsamoro skill-oriented learners and professionals. Nawa ay magsilbing inspirasyon at oportunidad ito sa inyong hakbang upang umunlad at mapalago ang inyong kabuhayan (May it serve as an inspiration and opportunity as you strive to grow and develop your livelihood),” she said.

MBHTE Minister Mohagher Iqbal, through lawyer Dayang Akirah L. Sansarona, extended his congratulations to the graduates.

"I congratulate all of our 50 graduates for completing the skills training. You should be proud of yourselves for achieving this milestone since this is the beginning of a career path that will help you grow professionally, support your family and contribute to our society's progress," he added.

Furthermore, the MBHTE-TESD provincial director's representative Jalilah Sapiin underscored the significance of the training.

"Naniniwala po kami na wala po ang opisina namin kung wala kayo na aming pinagsisilbihan. We are actually inspired by all of you, we are happy that at least in our own way we are providing new light to your lives (We believe that our office would not exist if not for you. We are actually inspired by all of you and we are happy that at least in our own way we are providing new light to your lives),” Sapiin said.

Meanwhile, Mujahid Disimban from the Cooperative Development Authority (lauded the collaboration of the agencies and partner institutions for the SCHOLARS/PAGE 5

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WED-THU|FEBRUARY 9-10, 2022

Globe provides typhoon-hit LGUs free 30-day SMS blast to reach constituents in one click

GLOBE is extending its A2P messaging service to affected local government units (LGUs) in Palawan, Visayas, and Mindanao to aid their ongoing community disaster recovery operations in the wake of powerful Typhoon Odette.

Through its portfolio company M360, managed by their corporate venture builder 917Ventures, Globe will make available free SMS blasts for 30 days to all LGUs in Odette-stricken areas to help them send public advisories in one click and reach more constituents faster. At least 83 towns devastated by Super Typhoon Odette in December will benefit from the service.

The free SMS blast will be made available until February

28, 2022 for areas with restored wireless networks.

So far, Globe has reached out to key LGUs known to have taken significant damage from Typhoon Odette, including Iloilo, Cebu, Bogo, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, Cordova, Danao, Bohol, Surigao Del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Southern Leyte, and Palawan.

The program is part of Globe’s advocacy to create resilient communities in times of crisis using the latest technology and ensuring people’s readiness.

“Globe is in solidarity with our kababayans in places affected by Super Typhoon Odette. We recognize the urgency of bringing messages

Cookery

By LEAH S. LUMINGO Teacher I

COOKING, cookery, or culinary arts is the art, science, and craft of using heat to prepare food for consumption. Cooking techniques and ingredients vary widely, from grilling food over an open fire to using electric stoves, to baking in various types of ovens, reflecting local conditions.

Ty p e s o f c o o k i n g also depend on the skill levels and training of the cooks. Cooking is done both by people in their own dwellings and by professional cooks and chefs in restaurants and other food establishments.

Preparing food with heat or fire is an activity unique to humans. It may have started around two million years ago, though archaeological evidence for the same does not predate more than one million years.

The expansion of agriculture, commerce, trade, and transportation b e t w e e n c i v i l i z at i on s

in different regions offered cooks many new ingredients. New inventions and technologies, such as the invention of pottery for holding and boiling of water, expanded cooking techniques. Some modern cooks apply advanced scientific techniques to food preparation to further enhance the flavor of the dish served.

Phylogenetic analysis s u g g e s t s t h at hu m a n ancestors may have invented cooking as far back as 1.8 million to 2.3 million years ago. Re-analysis of burnt bone fragments and plant ashes from the Wonderwerk C ave in S out h Af r ica has provided evidence supp or ting control of fire by early humans by 1 million years ago. There is evidence that Homo erectus were cooking their food as early as 500,000 years ago.

Evidence for the controlled use of fire by Homo erectus beginning some 400,000 years ago has wide scholarly support.

Corals

By REA MALOU C. SAREN Teacher III

A coral reef is an underwater ecosystem characterized by reef-building corals. Reefs are formed of colonies of coral polyps held together by calcium carbonate. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, whose polyps cluster in groups.

Coral belongs to the class Anthozoa in the animal phylum Cnidaria, which includes sea anemones and jellyfish. Unlike sea anemones, corals secrete hard carbonate exoskeletons that support and protect the coral. Most reefs grow best in warm, shallow, clear, sunny and agitated water.

Coral reefs first appeared 485 million years ago, at the dawn of the Early Ordovician, displacing the microbial and sponge reefs

of the Cambrian.

Sometimes called rainforests of the sea, shallow coral reefs form some of Earth's most diverse ecosystems. They occupy less than 0.1 percent of the world's ocean area, about half the area of France, yet they provide a home for at least 25 percent of all marine species, including fish, mollusks, worms, crustaceans, echinoderms, sponges, tunicates and other cnidarians. Coral reefs flourish in ocean waters that provide few nutrients. They are most commonly found at shallow depths in tropical waters, but deep water and cold water coral reefs exist on smaller scales in other areas.

of hope and clear updates on recovery efforts. With this, we decided to provide free bulk messaging service to affected LGUs through the M360 solution platform, our A2P messaging business under 917Ventures,” said Ramon Hirang, Chief Executive Officer of M360.

M360 said the free service can be rolled out as soon as an agreement is formed with the identified LGUs. Globe is currently helping government offices effectively communicate and deploy assistance across their respective communities.

The company developed the program to augment its ongoing typhoonrelated efforts after Odette’s devastation, which affected over 8,900 barangays and some 8.35 million people.

“Our focus is on ensuring that Globe can effectively respond and recover from major disasters. We also

give the highest priority in supporting the government in its disaster recovery efforts by deploying emergency communication solutions,” added Peter Maquera, Senior Vice President for Globe Business, Enterprise Group.

Globe is also contributing to climate change mitigation to help prevent extreme weather events, fostering an organizational culture of resource conservation as it actively participates in reforestation activities.

It is committed to resource usage optimization and waste minimization, focusing on effective e-waste management.

Globe strongly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly UN SDG No. 9, highlighting the roles of infrastructure and innovation as crucial drivers of economic growth and development, and UN SDG No. 13, which

Globe rolls out free SMS alerts in Southern Leyte, under the company's LGU Resilience Program

underscores the importance of climate action to save lives and livelihood to address climate emergencies. It is committed to upholding the UN Global

Compact principles and contributing to 10 UN SDGs. To learn more about Globe, visit www.globe.com. ph.

FILIPINO BAYANIHAN SPIRIT LIVES ON! CLAUDINE B. MARCHAN, MT I Misamis Occidental National High School Division of Oroquieta City

“The human capacity for burden is like bamboo- far more flexible than you’d ever believe at first glance.” ~ Jodi Picoult, My Sister’s Keeper The imp ac t of t he C OVID-19 pandemic is drastically changing the lives of people in all ages, including the lives of young people. Since its outbreak in late December 2019, COVID-19 has wreaked havoc across the world and like any critical sector, education has been hit hard.

Indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic is causing difficulties, rendering the underprivileged in the country more vulnerable. From education to economy to the environment and even to the private lives of all individuals have been affected not just in our country but all over the world. No one is exempted.

Despite these difficulties, one thing is certain, the “bayanihan spirit” is alive and innate in us Filipinos. The advent of calls for volunteer-driven relief efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic is evidence that the Filipino bayanihan thrives in times of crisis.

This is visible during times of disaster, calamities, crisis. Community Pantry has been showcased in which many emulates the good deeds of our kapwa Filipino. Recently, Bagyong Odette hit some parts in Mindanao.

Donations flooded when it happened.

A scenario which we can reflect that in spite crisis, Filipinos are willing to help and are very optimistic. Just like bamboos, we tend to go with the flow. Life must go on.

On the other side, all that happens now is a wake-up call to all of us.

That the only constant in this planet

is change- the change of set-up in education, the big impact that hits the economy hard, the effect to our environment which we see positively and of course the change of lifestyle of every person. We can also describe what is happening now as equilibriumas what Science calls it. Everything is called balance, ang that all of us are equal. Rich and poor people are being affected. This is a time to reflect and let ourselves be a better version of us. Let us see things positively on all sides.

Regardless of the challenges brought by the pandemic, it only shows how people are united for a cause nothing is impossible. Filipino Bayanihan spirit still runs in the blood of the modern Filipinos as manifested during the trying times in our lives.

PAGPAPAHAYAG NG KATATAGAN GAMIT ANG TALENTO AT KAKAYAHAN SA PANAHON NG COVID-19 PANDEMYA Ni: NIDA N. POSTRANO

Sabik na sabik na ang lahat na muling marinig ang usapan,hiyawan at tawanan habang magkasama sa loob ng silid-aralan. Mga aralin at gawain pinagtutulung-tulungan upang lahat ay madaling matapos nang may kaayusan. Habang nandoon si titser na madaling lapitan kung may aralin na hindi naintindihan.

Marami ang nagtatanong kung maibalik pa ba ang normal na panahon. Muli tayong pumasok sa paaralan upang tuloy ang pagtuklas at paglinang ng ating mga talento at kakayahan?“May posibilidad kapag bakuna sa mga guro at magaaral ay maipatupad.”ayon sa mga awtoridad. Habang wala pa, hindi dapat manghina o mawalan ng pagasa.Ipakita natin na tayo matatag sa iba’t ibang paraan.

Aking isa-isahin kung paano maipahayag ang ating katatagan sa panahon ng pandemya mga kaibigan at kaeskuwela. Una, ang pagpapakita ng ating talento at kakayahan at ating kultura bilang mga Pilipinong mamamayan..

Ang pagiging maka-Diyos natin ay napakalakas na sandata

sa pagharap ng anumang hamon ng buhay. Kahit magkakaiba ang ating relihiyon, naniniwala tayo na may makapangyarihang Diyos na matatag na sandigan sa oras ng problema,karamdaman at pangangailangan. Sa panalangin hilingin natin ang tulong sa Poong Maykapal na tayo ay big yan ng proteksyon, lakas, pag-asa at gabay sa ating buhay.

Ang pagkakalapit ng ating mga p am i ly ang Pi l ipi n o ay d a gd a g lakas sa atin sa pamamagitan ng pagtutulungan ng bawat kasapi ng pamilya upang maigapang ang pag-aaral ng mga anak sa loob ng tahanan Nariyan sina tatay, nanay, ate, kuya maging sina lolo at lola na makapagturo gamit ang mga modyuls. Sila ang handang sumuporta upang malutas ang ating mga problema at matugunan ang ating mga pangangailangan.

Likas nating mga Pilipino ang pagiging masayahin. Magawa nating makipagbiruan at humalakhak sa kabila ng mabigat na pinagdaanan.

Dito napapagaan ang ating mga kalooban at makalimutan ang bigat

na ating pinapasan.

Ang pagkakalapit ng ating mga pamilyang Pilipino ay dagdag lakas sa atin sa pamamagitan ng pagtutulungan ng bawat kasapi ng pamilya upang maigapang ang pag-aaral ng mga anak sa loob ng tahanan Nariyan sina tatay, nanay, ate, kuya maging sina lolo at lola na makapagturo gamit ang mga modyuls. Sila ang handang sumuporta upang malutas ang ating mga problema at matugunan ang ating mga pangangailangan.

Likas nating mga Pilipino ang pagiging masayahin. Magawa nating makipagbiruan at humalakhak sa kabila ng mabigat na pinagdaanan.

Dito napapagaan ang ating mga kalooban at makalimutan ang bigat na ating pinapasan.

Malaki ang naiambag sa atin upang maging matatag sa pagharap ng pamdemya ang pagkakaroon ng positibong pananaw sa hinaharap.

Naniniwala tayong gaganda rin takbo ng ating buhay. Ang Covid-19 ay gagaling din at babalik sa normal ang takbo ng ating pamumuhay. Habang may buhay,may pag-asa- sisikat din ang araw sa panibagong umaga!

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Opinion

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Nature: Reflection of the Creator

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ORLAN R. RAVANERA It is res ipsa loquitor (the thing speaks for itself ) that indeed the amazing beauty of nature is the reflection of the Unseen Being, the manifestation of the Creator called God. Questions were asked whether the portrayal of the image inside the church that we give high reverence to is just the imagination of Leonardo da Vinci, the painter. Isn’t it that creation is a reflection of the Creator?

Yes, the Indigenous Peoples are correct in protecting God’s vanishing creation as the highest form of worship and are even willing to give up their lives to stop the continuing plunder and exploitation of the ecosystems for greed and profit. To stop the further onslaught of the forest ecosystem and to save all the flora and fauna, they took direct actions through human barricades lying on the streets and dared the 50 10-wheeler logging trucks passing every night to run over them. The same love and compassion were shown by the environmentalists in India when every time loggers would attempt to cut down trees, they would run to the

forest to embrace the trees and would shout that the axe first pass their backs before cutting the trees. Thus, we have barricade movement in the Philippines, the Indian had Chipco movement. There is no greater love there is than one person willing to give up his/her life for God’s vanishing creation.

That indeed is the essence of oneness with nature that reflects the Creator’s divinity.

Mindamora Falls, for example, reflects such divinity to the IPs and wherever they may be in Mindanao, they face the Falls every time they pray to Magbabaya (Creator) and not the paintings of Leonardo da Vinci. The magnificence of the continuing flow of radiating water in a threestorey waterfalls from the watershed while above are flying eagles hovering over the green scenery of flowering plants and trees that house Tarsiers jumping from one branch to another is an incomparable beauty that is worth dying for. But why have the loggers put a sawmill amidst the dipteroarp forest called the invincible water dam in Mt. KalatunganKitanglad Range that caused the massive denudation of some 200,000-hectare ranges that have massacred all the flora and fauna that were living in the forest ecosystem for millions if not billions of years? Why have we allowed the massive destruction of all the ecosystems be forest, agriculture, rivers, seas and land?

These ecosystems were

once upon a time the home of billions of flora and fauna that have already been massacred by the most flawed species called the Homo Sapiens through the sins of commission or omission. While we were there kneeling inside the church, all of these horrible crimes against nature had been going-on without let up, doing nothing while all the billions of species, i.e., birds, fishes, animals, etc. crying in anguish as they were being phased-out from the face of the earth. Ah, is it because their problems are not our problems? Well, it is now because the number one law of nature is that everything is inter-connected. What evil done to nature will sooner or later come back to us.

How many thousands have died, rendered homeless and hungry every time nature strikes back? Don’t you know that our country is the fourth hardest hit country in the world on climate change and as declared by thousands of concerned scientists, humanity is now in a planetary emergency described as just “one minute before midnight.”

So much destruction had already happened worldwide due to nature’s wrath as GAIA (Mother Earth) is now facing its 6th extinction due to climate change. At a time when a quarter of the world’s population is threatened with starvation due to the erosion of soil fertility, water and genetic diversity, chasing the mirage of unending growth

and wrong development paradigm ruled by one percent regime of global corporations becomes a major source of genocide.

Indeed, the people and the environment are being sacrificed to the alter of greed and profit by the world’s elites and oligarchs. Killing people through the destruction of nature is an invisible form of violence which threatens justice, peace and survival.

This destruction is described by environmentalists as the Third World War, “a war waged in peacetime, without comparison but involving the largest number of deaths and the largest number of soldiers without uniform.”

Despite such truism, climate change denialism remains rampant. We must now advocate attention to the “web of denial,” a network of think tanks and from groups that had execute “a colossal political scheme” to deceive the public about climate change, and to halt climate action, as shown during the recently held Conference of Parties (COP26) on climate Change attended by some 200 world leaders in Glasgow, S c o t l a n d . T h at i n s a n e ideology called corporate globalization in connivance with mainstream media and religious fundamentalists to hide the truth must now be debunked if we have to stop our accelerating drive towards the Earth’s 6th extinction.

Perhaps, the pandemic is a wake-up call as no one seems to care.

NATURE/PAGE 7

The killing workplace

Oro Chamber

Rejection gives direction Think a minute… James Macie was a child born outside of marriage. Tragically this marked him for the rest of his life as a second-class citizen in England’s 18th century society. Even though his true father was Duke of Northumberland, James was never allowed to hold his father’s title. James’ mother tried to have his rightful honor in society restored, but the British government refused. Consequently, James was denied the rights of most ordinary citizens. He could not enter Parliament, hold a public office, or get a job in civil service. He could not even join the Army or the Navy.

S h or t l y a f t e r Ja m e s graduated from Pembroke College, he ambitiously started a career in science.

The results of his many a d v a n c e d e x p e r i m e nt s were published, and James became a highly respected scientist. Yet, while other scientists were recognized by the British government with knighthoods, James was denied that honor simply because of his birth.

James never married,

WED-THU|FEBRUARY 9-10, 2022

Great Stillness Speaks of Divinity

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RUFINO T. MAGBANUA Vice President for Business Development

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THINK A MINUTE

JHAN TIAFAU HURST knowing that his country would also reject his children because of him. However, he still gave to others a great inheritance. When James died in 1829, he was a very rich man. But instead of leaving his wealth to his own nation, he left all of his money to the United States.

He disinherited England as it had disinherited him.

In his w i l l, James instructed that his money be used to start an institution that would continue to discover and spread knowledge for humankind.

His only condition was that it would carry on his family name which was taken away from him at birth. The name REJECTION/PAGE 6

I have experienced it many times. I have written about it many times. Nothing changed yet. Of course not!

Even in times of pandemic, a workplace remains as a workplace. Even as a home office.

Fact is, nowadays, the modern workplace can inflict dangerous levels of stress on employees even more than decades ago. Jeffrey Pfeffer, author of "Dying for a Paycheck" , argues that these practices don’t help companies – and warns governments are ignoring an emerging public health crisis. Jeffrey Pfeffer is not the only one. Hundreds more followed Pfeffer's footsteps.

We’ve all fallen victim to a job that seemed to suck the souls out of us. You might know the feeling — undue stress, high expectations, little return for hard work and so on. In a society that values hard work and professionalism, it can be difficult to recognize you’re in one of these toxic work situations.

Perhaps you’re the loyal type who’ll do anything for your employer, no matter the personal cost. Or the income is great, so you suffer through rough workdays to achieve your financial dreams. Others

absolutely love their jobs but just can’t bring in the income they deserve. Whatever the reason, it might be time to let go of a toxic job if you find yourself saying "my job is killing me" and seek a better future. Here are five signs your job is killing you, along with how to find a better one.

It can be difficult to decide if you should stick through a rough patch at work or move on to something better.

But how do you know if you should leave your job? Here are some signs that your current job is not adding value to your life.

1. You dread going into work. It can take some time to get adjusted to a new job.

But if you’ve been at it for months and still have trouble walking through the door without your chest tightening, it might be a sign that it’s time to move on. Don’t spend your life working at a job that fills you with constant dread.

2. There’s no opportunity for advancement. So, you’ve been with your company for some time, but it seems like you’ve hit a wall. Perhaps you’ve b een pass ed on multiple promotions or you’ve asked for advancement opportunities and hit a dead end. Why stay at a job where you aren’t allowed to grow

and achieve your very best?

3. You work with toxic people. Toxic people in the workplace can be a killer.

Sometimes it’s just one or two coworkers who you can learn to live with. Other times, a manager or supervisor makes it impossible for you to succeed. You’ll probably never feel comfortable or happy in a workplace filled with negative energy.

4. The work is too easy or too challenging. Work with no challenges is boring. You need to face challenges so you can overcome them and grow in your confidence. At the same time, a job that is much too challenging can make you feel incompetent and stressed. It’s important to find work that allows you to face and solve obstacles while not killing yourself in the process.

5. Work is impacting your personal life. If your job is causing so much chaos that you can’t sleep at night, it’s probably time to move on.

Likewise, a job that cuts into your personal time can take a hit on your family and social life. Everyone needs downtime. Don’t let your job suck everything out of you.

When you’ve f inally decided enough is enough, make sure to resign with

HAVE MY SAY

KLAUS DORING grace. You don’t want to burn bridges, lose a potential reference or hur t your valuable reputation. Show your employer respect if you want to be respected in return.

Ju s t b e c au s e you’ve resigned doesn’t mean you should drop everything and skate through your last days.

Show some self-respect by continuing to perform your job to your best ability. You are still being paid for your time, so make sure you are earning that pay fairly. Finish your last days with grace.

Of course, a stressful job can definitely affect your health negatively. People can only undergo a certain amount of stress before their bodies begin to suffer.

Stress can cause headaches, insomnia and even paralysis when severe enough. It can WORKPLACE/PAGE 7

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WED-THU|FEBRUARY 9-10, 2022

Duterte endorsement is ‘gold,’ but Lacson-Sotto tandem won’t rely on it

Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senator Panfilo Lacson. INQUIRER.net photo / Christia Marie Ramos

Scholars... from page 2

successful conduct of the training and further challenged the graduates.

"Gawin niyong instrumento itong p ag t at ap o s n iyo up ang magsimula, magexplore ng bagong oportunidad para sa inyong kinabukasan (Take this as an instrument to start and explore new opp or tu n it i e s for you r future),” he added.

On the part of the trainees, Nashrima Alimoden shared her experience during the training and thanked Ramos’ office, the MBHTE-TESD Lanao del Sur, Everly Sisters Multi-Skills, and Learning Center, Datu Daud Learning Center and other partner

institutions for the learning and livelihood opportunity extended to them.

"Sobrang malaki po ang tulong ng programang ito saamin dahil matutulongan niya po kami sa aming paghahanapbuhay (This program is a great help for us because it can help us in augmenting our livelihood),” she added.

Meanwhile, the guests, graduates, trainers, and partner agencies were given certificates of participation and appreciation.

Aside f rom t he to ol kits that the Office of MP Ramos will provide, the trainees also received their allowances as part of the Training Support Fund by the MBHTE-TESD Lanao del Sur. (PR)

Experiential learning

By JOMENIE V. AMPASIN Teacher I Hermano Elementary School

EXPERIENTIAL learning is an engaged learning process whereby students “learn by doing” and by reflecting on the experience.

E x p e r i e nt i a l l e ar n i ng activities can include, but are not limited to, handson laboratory experiments, internships, practicums, field exercises, study abroad, undergraduate research and studio performances.

We l l - p l a n n e d , supervised and assessed e x p e r i e nt i a l l e a r n i n g programs can stimulate a c a d e m i c i n q u i r y by promoting interdisciplinary learning, civic engagement, career development, cultural awareness, leadership, and other professional and intellectual skills.

Experiences are carefully chosen for their learning potential (i.e. whether they provide opportunities for students to practice and deepen emergent skills, e n c o u nt e r n ov e l a n d unpredictable situations that support new learning, or learn from natural consequences, mistakes,

and successes).

Throughout the e x p e r i e nt i a l l e a r n i n g process, the learner is actively engaged in posing questions, investigating, e x p e r i m e nt i ng , b e i ng curious, solving problems, assuming responsibility, being creative, and constructing meaning, and is challenged to take initiative, make decisions and be accountable for results.

Reflection on learning during and after one’s experiences is an integral component of the learning process. This reflection leads to analysis, critical thinking, and synthesis (Schon, 1983; Boud, Cohen, & Walker, 1993).

Learners are engaged intellectually, emotionally, socially, and/or physically, which produces a perception that the learning task is authentic.

Relationships are developed and nurtured: learner to self, learner to others, and learner to the world at large.

While the endorsement of President Rodrigo Duterte is considered “gold,” the Lacson-Sotto tandem will not solely rely on the support of anyone going forward in their campaign.

“The endorsement of President Duterte is gold, but since he has decided not to endorse anyone, hinahayaan niya. Hinahayaan niya ang taumbayan na magdesisyon [he’s letting the people choose for themselves],” Senate President Vicente Sotto III, who is running for the vice presidency, told reporters in a press conference Tuesday.

“And I know for a fact,

How to help during this Covid crisis

By RECHELLE J. EDADES Teacher I Hermano Elementary School

LOOK after yourself to after us all. You are the one who can contribute in your small way to flatten the curve. If all of us will do the same thing, then we are one big community who can flatten the curve. Use simple social distancing tactics like replacing hugs and h and sh a ke s w it h alternatives – the wave, the hand on heart, namaste, “how are you?”, hi brows and the nod. It’s also very important to keep ourselves and our family healthy in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Check in on elderly neighbors. Although

necessary, social isolation can be lonely. Text, call, or email especially if they live alone. Reach out to people in self-isolation. Send them funny memes or GIFs to cheer them up. Chat them on video. Don’t forget about them. Make sure they feel less alone and have social support. Offer them help.

Volunteer your time.

Know someone in selfisolation or who needs t o l i m it t h e i r pu b l i c interac tions. Of fer to pick up and deliver their shopping, treats or other things they may need while taking precautions to keep yourself safe.

Philippines rates high in remote learning readiness

By Ma. EMELDA M. SORILLA Teacher I Hermano Elementary School

ALONGSIDE Argentina, Barbados and Jamaica, the Philippines had 'efficient policy responses supported by high emergency preparedness and existence of household factors that support remote learning,' Unicef said.

Ne arly ha l f of t he countries rated have belowaverage remote learning readiness with only one to two stars.

'More than 200 million schoolchildren live in 31 countries that are unprepared to deploy remote learning during emergency school closures.

Among those 200 million schoolchildren, more than a half —102 million—had limited access to in-person learning since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic,' said Unicef in its report.

It noted that pre-primary education was the least prepared sector across all

education levels, with the youngest children from 33 countries at risk of being unprepared for primary or elementary education.

The Department of Education (DepEd) welcomed the recognition from Unicef.

It credited stakeholders — t e a c h e r s , p a re nt s , partners and learners — for the realization of the Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP) that ensured students continue their education du r i ng t h e p an d e m i c through modular learning, online learning, TV- and radio-based instruction, or blended learning modalities.

'Through our united efforts, we managed to support the education of more than 27 million learners while prioritizing their health and safety amidst the pandemic,' DepEd said in a statement.

sinabi niya hindi siya mage-endorse [he’s not going to endorse anyone], he told me personally on the phone,” he added.

This, when asked about the president’s statement that he is not supporting any presidential aspirant “at this time.

Sotto and his presidential running mate, Senator Panfilo Lacson, are in Cavite to kick off their 2022 campaign.

Lacson, for his part, said whether or not Duterte will endorse anyone is the chief executive’s prerogative.

“Prerogative nya ‘yon whether mag-endorse sya o hindi, nasa kanya yon. Sariling desisyon, sariling pananaw niya yon. Let’s leave it at that. Kami, we run as if walang nag-eendorse sa amin miski sino, walang celebrity, basta ang gagawin namin ie-educate namin ang mga botante [That’s his prerogative, whether to endorse anyone or not.

That’s his own decision.

We are running not relying on anyone’s endorsement, what we’ll do is to educate the voters],” the presidential candidate said.

Pinoon

By RENALYN I. VILLARAIZ Teacher III

SEVERAL Zingiberaceae plants were reported to possess wide range of antioxidants. The Philippine e n d e m i c Ho r n s t e d t i a conoidea is still poorly investigated.

The leaves and rhizomes of H. conoidea were collected from Kibawe, Bukidnon, Philippines, oven-dried at 40°C and extracted using absolute methanol.

The tot a l ant ioxidant activity and total phenolic content of the methanolic extracts of the leaves and rhizomes of H. conoidea were evaluated through Phosphomoly bdenum method and Folin-Ciocalteu method, respectively.

The total antioxidant ac t iv it y, express e d as milligram ascorbic acid equivalent per gram sample, was significantly higher in leaves (4.67) as compared to rhizomes (2.03). Furthermore, the determination of total phenolic content, expressed

as milligram gallic acid equivalent per gram sample, revealed that leaves have greater amount of phenolics (1.67) than rhizomes (1.28).

A positive correlation between total antioxidant activity and total phenolic content was observed. The present findings support that the leaves and rhizomes of H. conoidea are both potential sources of natural antioxidants.

Hornstedtia is a genus of plants in the Zingiberaceae.

It is native to Southeast Asia, the Himalayas, southern C h i n a , Ne w G u i n e a , Melanesia and Queensland.

P r i m e c on c e r n on human health preservation has escalated interest on search for more natural antioxidant sources.

D e s pit e t h e re p or t e d potential values of some Zingiberaceae species, less emphasis is still given to other Zingiberaceae plants especially those found in the Philippines.

Gardening amidst the pandemic

By LEILANI M. PEPITO Teacher I

GARDENING and planting are becoming a popular trend for those looking for some piece of mind during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The coronavirus pandemic forced many of us to be confined into our homes for extended periods of time, but a popular trend is helping people get outside while bringing them a little peace of mind.

Planting and gardening is known for b eing a peaceful activity and since COVID-19 has drastically impacted our way of life, many have taken up the outdoor hobby.

In the midst of a global pandemic, I decided to start my own garden.

I was working from

home and I would wake up moments before I had to log in to work. It was just dreadful. The days felt grey and I wanted more.

I found love in my garden and I honestly never expected it to get like this but I'm so blessed. It's so rewarding.

They say millennials in particular are posting their plants on social media platforms like Instagram and Pinterest, and those photos are inspiring others to discover the magic of plants and gardens too.

A lot of our customers are apartment dwellers and they don't have any green space in the city. So it's so important to help them get more plants in their lives.

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WED-THU|FEBRUARY 9-10, 2022

Campaign... from page 1

National Police – Woman and Children Center (PNPWCPC); and the International Justice Mission (IJM).

Other campaign partners include the social media p l at f o r m T i k To k , a n d telecommunications company PLDT and Smart.

In a statement, DOJIACAT Undersecretary-inCharge Emmeline AglipayVillar said the OSAEC is currently the worst form of trafficking, and it is unfortunate that the internet is being used by unscrupulous individuals in a wrong and illegal way.

"Thankfully, we have

held several perpetrators accountable – at least 138 of them already serving their respective sentences, including life imprisonment.

But we cannot rest on our laurels, especially with the surge of this crime during the pandemic,” Villar said.

“More than ever, there is a greater need now to stay alert against this crime. We at IACAT call on the public to help fight this crime by reporting it to authorities,” she added.

The campaign was also l aunche d as t he world observes Safer Internet Day, in which partner organizations celebrate wins achieved over the years, while calling for stronger community resolve

Post-Covid education

By JOMENIE V. AMPASIN Teacher I Hermano Elementary School

IN November 2021, the Philippines was one of the few countries in the world whose educational inst itut ions remaine d closed due to Covid-19.

The Philippines shared this position with Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Cuba and Belize.

In the same month, a report on education by the World Bank (WB) stated that distance schooling only covered 20 percent of children in the Philippines.

In fact, only 26.9 percent of students have broadband access. But even for the ones who had access, online learning has been a heavy burden, especially for children ages 12 and below whose capacity to stay focused on the screen and on the teaching of the professor for hours is limited. This has been somehow softened by the synchronous/asynchronous model, adopted by many

schools and universities.

Still, teaching and learning is a communicative and cooperative process in which the remote version imposed by Covid has been proven to be insufficient.

According to the same WB report, 90 percent of Filipino children aged 10 cannot read.

A report titled 'Prioritizing L earning D ur ing C ovid-19/The Most Effective Ways to Keep Children Learning During and Post-Pandemic,' authored by the WB and United Nations Children's Fu n d , pu b l i s h e d ju s t last month, details the devastating effects that the permanent closure of schools is having in children worldwide and how this will dramatically affect economies across the globe in the coming years, especially in developing countries like the Philippines.

Republic of the Philippines Region X Province of Lanao del Norte Municipality of Kapatagan Office of the Municipal Civil Registrar R.A. 9048 (CFN) NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION In Compliance with section 7 of R.A. 9048, a notice is hereby served to the public that ANNA MACION NISNISAN-VILLAGRACIA has filed with this Office, a petition for Change of First Name from SANTA to ANNA in the Certificate of Live Birth of SANTA MASION NISNISAN who was born on NOVEMBER 1, 1980 at Kapatagan Lanao del Norte and whose parents are PETRONIO NISNISAN and ERENIA SUMATRA MACION. Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written opposition with this Office not later than 15 days.

BWM: February 9 & 16, 2022

(SGD) IVY REYES TONGCO Municipal Civil Registrar

against the continuing threat.

Rescued, prosecuted In a separate statement, the IJM said since Philippine authorities got wind of the modern form of child trafficking, more than 300 perpetrators have been arrested, and close to 900 victims have been rescued as a result of the government’s relentless campaign to end the online sexual exploitation of children, including numerous successful anti-trafficking inperson operations conducted by the PNP-WCPC. The WCPC is a specialized unit of the PNP working against online sexual exploitation of children, which is a trafficking offense in the Philippines.

In November 2021, at least two court convictions of OSAEC-related cases, as conducted by WCPC, were made in Iligan City with IJM documenting the events.

One of the cases included a female trafficker who was meted a jail term of 19 years, four months and four days up to 23 years, and another 10 months and two days after

pleading guilty to offenses related to online sexual exploitation of children.

On Novemb er 24, a regional trial court branch in Iligan City handed down the verdict on the trafficker after she entered guilty pleas to offenses under the AntiTrafficking in Persons Act, or Republic Act (RA) 9208, Anti-Child Abuse Law or RA 7610, and Anti-Child Pornography Act or RA 9775.

Members of the WCPCMindanao field unit arrested the trafficker on June 27, 2019, and brought four children to safety, including her then eight-year-old daughter whom she offered for live-streamed sexual abuse in exchange for money from sex offenders online.

“This is the fruit of the cooperative effort of the brave men and women of the WCPC and our counterparts in the DOJ as we perform our sworn duty to hold those who prey on the innocent through the use of the internet accountable for their crimes,” said Brig.

Gen. Alessandro Abella, the WPCPC chief, said in an

Elementary school

By RECHELLE J. EDADES Teacher I Hermano Elementary School

A primar y school (in I r e l a n d , t h e Un i t e d Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, and South Africa), junior school (in Australia), elementar y school or grade school (in North America and the Philippines) is a school for primar y education of children who are five to eleven years of age. In South Africa, primar y school starts from Grade R (age 5-6) till Grade 7 (age 12-13). It typically comes after preschool and before secondary school.

The International Standard Classification of Education considers primary education as a single phase where programmes are typically designed to provide fundamental skills in reading, writing, and mathematics and to establish a solid foundation for learning. This is ISCED Level 1: Primary education or first stage of basic education.

D u r i ng Gre e k an d Roman times, boys were educated by their mothers until the age of seven, then according to the culture of t heir lo cat ion and

times, would start formal education. In Sparta until twelve, it would be at a military academy building up physical fitness and combat skills, but also re a d i n g , w r it i n g a n d arithmetic: 25 while in Athens the emphasis would be on understanding the laws of the polis, reading, writing, arithmetic and music with gymnastics and athletics,: 29, 30 and learning the moral stories of Homer. Girls received all their education at home. In Rome the primary school was called the ludus; the curriculum developed over the centuries featuring the learning of both Latin and Greek. In AD 94, Quintilian published the systematic educational work, Institutio Oratoria.:68 He distinguished between teaching and learning, and that a child aged between 7 and 14 learned by sense experience, learns to form ideas, develops language and memory. He recommended that teachers should motivate their pupils by making the teaching interesting, rather than by corporal punishment.

earlier statement.

Social media presence The WCPC also runs a 24hour Facebook page helpline, dubbed as “AlengPulis”, where people can report online sexual exploitation of children and other incidents of abuse and exploitation of women and children.

The government, through the DOJ, has also scored at least 138 convictions, based on IJM-supported operations as of Dec. 31, 2021.

Cathy L. Yap-Yang, PLDT and Smart 1st vice president and group head for corporate communications, also said their firms support the IJM and the government in its efforts to continuously broaden the coalition against online sexual exploitation of Filipino children.

"As cases of this crime soared through the pandemic, we were able to block access to an accumulation of over 179,000 URLs (Uniform R e s ou rc e L o c at or s , or websites) linked to online child abuse through our network-embedded Child Protection Platform, as of January 31, 2022,” she said.

Driven by their pioneering child safeguarding policy, Yang said they have also rolled out child online safety education to over 37,000 stakeholders and i mpl e me nte d c ap a c it y building interventions for barangay councils for the

protection of children in the most affected areas.

Campaign videos are posted on IJM Philippines’ TikTok channel (@ijmph).

To view all campaign videos, search for content under the #NotOnOurScreens hashtag on TikTok. The group also called on the public to report any incidence of OSAEC immediately via PNP-WCPC hotlines: 0919-777-7377 (Smart) and 0966-725-5961.

(PNA)

Cleared... from page 2

being drug-cleared but it is only Camiguin which they were able to validate as the province was able to comply with all the requirements of the agency.

PDEA confers the Balangay Seal of Excellence to the Province of Camiguin for clearing all its five towns from the menace of illegal drugs through the implementation of Barangay Drug Clearing Program.

The agency also confers the said seal to Catarman for clearing its 14 barangays from illegal drugs, Guinsiliban with 7 drug-cleared barangays, Mahinog (13), Mambajao (15), and Sagay (9).

The Balangay Seal of Excellence is a special recognition awarded to provinces and towns for their accelerated efforts against the proliferation of illegal drugs in drug-affected barangays.

(RTP/PIA-10/Camiguin)

DepEd allows more schools to hold face to face classes

By Ma. EMELDA M. SORILLA Teacher I Hermano Elementary School

The Department of Education says that 304 public schools are located in Alert Level 2 areas, where face-to-face classes are allowed for basic education students.

The Department of Education (DepEd) said on Wednesday, February 2, that it has authorized its regional units to start the “progressive expansion phase” of limited faceto-face classes following the approval of President Rodrigo Duterte.

The DepEd said that its regional directors have submitted a list of 6,686 schools nationwide that have passed the School Safety Assessment Tool (SSAT).

Of the list of schools identif ied, 304 public schools are located in Alert

Level 2 areas, where face-toface classes are allowed for basic education students.

This list will progressively increase as the rest of the schools are able to address their respective SSAT gaps.

The DepEd has yet to provide the list of the schools. As of today, no face-to-face classes are ongoing because the schools are on their mid-year break for February 2-5 under SY 2021-2022 calendar.

The rest of the regions, as well as divisions in the above regions outside of those already under Alert Level 2, are continuing their preparations for the expanded phase of face-toface classes in anticipation of improvement in the COVID-19 Alert Level in their respective areas.

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Rejection... from page 4

he adopted later in life: Smithson. And today the Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum and research complex. It has 19 museums, 9 research centers, and more than 140 affiliate museums around the world sharing with millions of people its cultural, historical, and scientific knowledge.

James used his “rejection to give him direction” to where he could invest his time, talents and treasures to make the world a better place. Just because you have felt rejected, it does not mean your life has no important purpose. On the contrary, if you sincerely ask your Maker to take charge of your heart and choices, Jesus, who will never reject you, will show you His great plan and purpose for your life… one day at a time. Just think a minute.

Workplace... from page 4

also trigger symptoms of underlying mental illness.

Overloads of stress can go as far as causing conditions like hypertension and stroke.

Of course it’s okay to quit! Not all employers and employees are good matches.

Don’t spend your life being miserable because you feel obligated to stick with a deadend job. Yes, your employer may be disappointed when you go, but that’s their problem, not yours. Just be sure you are quitting for the right reasons, not because of a personal vendetta. Also, make sure you’ve given a new job enough time to make an accurate assessment — it can take two or three months before you feel comfortable at a new job.

But some leaders are taking this idea of stewardship seriously. Companies such as Patagonia, Collective Health, SAS Institute, Google, John Lewis Partnership – which is employee-owned – and Zillow provide a template of what might be different. As I said, SOME leaders. Really only a very few. Not enough.

I guess most leaders really don't care about their staff.

People get paid time off and are expected to use it.

Managers don’t send emails or texts at all hours – people work, go home and have time to relax and refresh.

The organisations offer EXTRA-JUDICIAL PARTITION OF ESTATE

accommodations so that people can have both a job and a family life. People are treated like adults and have control over what they do and how they do it to meet their job responsibilities, not micromanaged.

If your job is causing undue work stress in your life, take a moment to reassess the situation. It’s easy to have an overachiever mentality — until it makes you sick or shatters your personal life. Take some time to assess your life — your work responsibilities, your level of quality personal time and your health. If you want to be happy, it’s important to keep these areas of life well-balanced.

M o s t i m p o r t a n t l y, the companies are led by individuals who take their obligations to their people seriously. SAS Institute has a chief health officer whose job is not just to control costs but also to ensure employees are as healthy as possible.

Bob Chapman recognises that everyone who comes to work at Barry-Wehmiller is “someone’s precious child” or family member.

People need to choose their employer not just for salary and promotion opportunities but on the basis of whether the job will be good for their psychological and physical health. Business leaders should measure the health of their workforce, not just profits.

And governments concerned about the healthcare cost crisis need to focus on the workplace, because workplace stress is clearly making people sick. None of this is necessary – no one should be dying for a paycheck. +++ Email: dor ingklaus@ gmail.com or follow me on Facebook, Linkedin or Twitter or visit my www. germanexpatinthephilippines. b l o g s p o t . c o m o r w w w. klausdoringsclassicalmusic. blogspot.com.

Nature... from page 4

I am not surprised as indeed humanity now is so deeply buried in unbridled consumerism and materialism and false religious belief amidst morale collapse and religious apathy. A new consciousness must now dawn upon human beings who have been created in the image and likeness of God but have reduced the image of God to his own image. That

Consciousness is based on the oneness and sacredness of all of God’s creation.

Indeed, we are all one with nature, connected to the Ocean of Consciousness, the Formless, the Unseen Being.

Thus, connect with the Great Stillness of Nature – the trees, flowers, the birds and even with the stars and not with that painting which is just an imagination of the painter.

Amidst morale collapse and religious apathy, regain back that faith in the sacredness and oneness, to connect with the Great Stillness, devoid of the egoic chattering dominating mind deeply buried in unconsciousness, the reason why we are facing the 6th extinction. Wake-up.

Connect with that Great Stillness, that sacredness, that oneness and that muchsought inner peace will come, a great peace that follows the biblical line that “passeth all understanding.” Through that inner peace, together we can save GAIA as we are all God’s stewards of His creation!

Down... from page 1

to impact investment flows not only in the country but also globally.

L im adde d t hat t he government is optimistic that Republic Act 11534, other wise known as the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act approved on March 26, 2021, “is expected to generate more investments noting the revisions for lower corporate income tax rate as it aims to modernize the country’s investment incentives.”

The official, however, reported that the region saw an increase in the number of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

She said that MSMEs assisted by the Department of Trade Industry (DTI)-Davao increased by 7% from 23,627 in 2020 to 25,184 in 2021 “through various programs such as product development, labeling, marketing and promotion” of its Negosyo Center. “ The increase in the number of MSMEs assisted was also attributed to intensify promotion and capacity building on ecommerce, advocacy activities through social media as well as new businesses that opened during the time of pandemic such as suppliers of medical supplies,” Lim added.

Loans extended to MSMEs likewise increased

KN O W A LL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That the late PASTOR Q. ABA who died intestate on _____________, without leaving a will; that at the time of her death, she is the registered owner of the following properties, which is more particularly described as follows; Tax Declaration No. 0815001010112 situated at Malanang (now Taboc), Opol, Misamis Oriental, containing an area of ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED EIGHTY (1,780) Square Meters, more or less, and has been the subject of an EXTRA-JUDICIAL PARTITION OF ESTATE, filed by the heirs of PASTOR Q. ABA, per DOC #258; PAGE #52; BOOK #XLIX; Series of 2021 under the Notarial Registry of ATTY. JAYFRANCIS D. BAGO. BWM: Jan 26, Feb 2 & 9, 2022

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from P68.52 million in 2020 to P298.1 million in 2021, comprising a total of 1,994 applications approved out of 3,359 applications endorsed.

She said that efforts to implement the Prevent, D e t e c t , Is o l at e , Tre at , Reintegrate, and accelerated Vaccination (PDITR) strategy of the Regional Task Force against COVID-19, which includes measures such as the aggressive promotion and enforcement of minimum public health standards and imposition of granular lockdowns can help in the recovery of the regional economy. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)

Halal...

from page 1 with four other companies.

“The five companies, upon receiving this certificate of registration can fully be operational with their own respective ventures and will automatically enjoy fiscal incentives provided for by the Regional BBoI,” Ishak V. Mastura, the board’s chairman, said in a statement.

PC&I will provide halal accreditation for export products, particularly those bound for the Middle East, the agency said.

For BIMP-EAGA, which covers areas with largely Muslim populations, the B ang s amoro E c onom i c Development C ouncil (BEDC) recently created a committee that will focus on strengthening ties with the four-nation economic grouping.

EAGA, formally established in 1994, is composed of Brunei Darussalam; Indonesia’s K a l i m a nt a n , S u l aw e s i , Maluku, and Papua provinces; Malaysia’s Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan; and the Philippine regions of Mindanao and Palawan.

Director-General Rosslainie Alonto-Sinarimbo of the Bangsamoro Ministry of Trade, Investment, and Tour ism s aid t he subcommittee formed in December will be working closely with the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), which serves as the Philippine’s lead agency for EAGA programs. “(T)he sub-committee will truly sustain our engagement with MinDA and the BIMP-

EAGA counterparts for the region’s sustainable economic growth,” Ms. Sinarimbo said during the 1st Regular Meeting of the BED C’s Economic Development Committee in mid-January.

MinDA Development Management Officer Amhed Jeoffrey Datukan said during the meeting that one of the steps recently taken was a par tnership with the Bangsamoro Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) for the development of the halal beef sector, among others.

“MinDA forged an engagement with BARMM-MAFAR on the development of halal beef production industry, assist the Mindanao Barter Trade Council, and implement other several ongoing priorities that BARMM could take advantage of,” Mr. Datukan said.

The Bangsamoro region’s halal verification laboratory was renovated and upgraded last year for P47 million.

T h e f a c i l i t y, w h i c h has been fitted with new equipment, can do analysis for ethanol, gelatin, pesticide residue, minerals and heavy metals in food and water, and meat and meat-based products.

The global halal market, which was estimated at around $3 trillion in 2021, is expected to grow to $10 trillion in the next few years, according to the national government’s Department of Trade and Industry.

Halal, the Arabic word for permissible, refers to goods and services that conform to Islamic law and practices.

Vax...

from page 1

Dr. Ted Yu Jr., the city health office (CHO) medical officer, also said the venue is the perfect area for the vaccination considering that only the Pfizer vaccine is

allowed for the particular age group.

"The area should be cold because only Pfizer is allowed for the vaccination of the (five to 11 years old).

We will utilize that kind of facility for the vaccination and we are thankful to SM for providing space, especially their children's corner," he said.

Yu also confirmed that the reformulated Pfizer vaccine that will be used for the pediatric vaccination is expected to arrive this week.

"I think the Pfizer vaccine is expected to arrive this week because their tentative schedule for us is on February 11," he said.

The latest CHO data s h owe d t h at t h e l o c a l government has preregistered 10,187 children aged five to 11 years old for the forthcoming Covid-19 vaccination.

Yu said they are still waiting for the guidelines and a go-signal from the Department of Health to start the vaccination rollout.

The medical officer has again encouraged parents who have children aged 5-11 years old to register their children for the upcoming Covid-19 vaccination.

He said parents who would want to register their children could go to the link: services.cagayandeoro. gov.ph:8087/vaccprereg and choose category E1.0 for children who do not have comorbidities and category E1.1 for children who have comorbidities.

As of Sunday, the city government has tallied 520,387 fully vaccinated residents here, or 86.74 percent from the city's target population of 599,929.

T h e y a l s o re c ord e d 33,679 individuals who have received their first dose, and 71,710 from fully vaccinated individuals who have been administered booster shots.

(PNA)

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Cebu government lauds Visayan Electric, other partners for help in province’s quick recovery T

FIST BUMP. AboitizPower Distribution Utilities Chief Operating Officer Anton Mari Perdices and Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia share a light moment during the Cebu Provincial Government’s appreciation ceremony for stakeholders who helped in Cebu’s recovery from supertyphoon Odette at the Cebu Capitol Social Hall on Feb. 7, 2022. (Photo by Capitol PIO)

HE Provincial Government of Cebu has recognized AboitizPower subsidiary Visayan Electric Co. (Visayan Electric) and other distribution utilities for braving the challenges of restoring power in the aftermath of Typhoon Odette, helping Cebu Province in its quick recovery.

Speaking during the appreciation ceremony hosted by the Capitol on Feb. 7, 2022, Anton Mari Perdices, chief operating officer of AboitizPower Distribution Utilities, underscored how the collaboration between the private and public sectors greatly helped the province in its speedy recovery,

particularly in the reelectrification of households in Cebu.

“Something that I picked up from Gov. Gwen was her willingness to help. That’s also what I was able to pass on to the Visayan Electric team. That we’re here to help.

Let us know how we can help, what borders we need to cross, what challenges and barriers we need to break.

That’s the single thing that really made us turn this city around,” he said in his speech after receiving from Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia a plaque of appreciation on behalf of the Visayan Electric team.

Perdices acknowledged the leadership of Gov. Garcia who set the tone in responding to the problems

THANK YOU. Visayan Electric President and Chief Operating Officer Raul Lucero (5th from left) and AboitizPower Distribution Utilities Chief Operating Officer Anton Mari Perdices (7th from left) receive a plaque of appreciation and Cebu cinnamon tree sapling from Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia (6th from left) during the Cebu Provincial Government’s Appreciation Ceremony for those who helped in the province’s recovery efforts from typhoon Odette at the Capitol Social Hall on Monday, Feb. 7, 2022. Joining them are members of the Cebu Provincial Board. (Photo by Capitol PIO)

after the calamity, such as the province-wide blackout, through regular coordination meetings.

Perdices also lauded the over 700-strong manpower comprising Visayan Electric employees and augmentation personnel from other groups, despite also being affected by the typhoon, for working tirelessly through the holidays to ensure Cebuanos would be re-energized as soon as possible.

Help and support He added that Visayan Electric couldn’t have done the work alone and that the assistance they received from other groups, including various contractors and the Philippine Army, helped them work more efficiently with double to even triple their existing manpower.

“It’s all about the support we received. Now that we have a playbook, we are prepared to face greater challenges in the future,” Perdices said.

Earlier, the Provincial Government extended incentives to linemen of various distribution utilities who helped in the re-electrification efforts in the province. For Visayan Electric alone, 36 of its linemen each received P5,000 from the Capitol.

“It’s not that ‘Cebu will rise.’ We have already risen.

Close to two months have gone by and I think we are back to normal. For Visayan Electric, we are now close to 96 percent energization,” he noted.

According to Perdices, the distribution utility’s linemen teams are now in the final stretch of their restoration works, focusing on the remote areas outside

the city centers.

While restoration activities in these areas require more extensive labor, he said “they won’t stop until all customers in the franchise area are reenergized”.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Government also recognized contractors, haulers, policemen, the Philippine Army, and the Philippine Navy during the appreciation event.

The event was a show of gratitude for their invaluable contributions to the Provincial Government’s restoration and rehabilitation efforts post-typhoon.

In response, Garcia said that although she is just a drop in an ocean, she was able to inspire a collaborative effort in the clearing, distribution of relief goods, and continued rebuilding efforts because of these groups' selflessness.

She likened the synergy to a vast ocean of strength as equipment, manpower, and other resources were pooled in the timeless spirit of bayanihan.

“Consul Anton [Perdices] is right. It’s no longer about the future. ‘Cebu will rise,’ no. Cebu has risen once again, proving to one and all why Cebu indeed is the number one province in the entire country today,” Garcia added.

The Provincial Government also gave each recipient saplings of the endemic Cinnamon tree or kaningag. The tree, having proven its uses and benefits, is a symbol of Cebu, representing strength and resiliency. The tree also represents a "bond that will never break."

Genovian Bakeshop products such as Spanish bread, cheese de sal, ube cheese de sal, ham and cheese and pan de coco.

They also sell tablea, robusta and arabica coffee by the packs.

Reserve now!

Meljoydee's homemade ice cream now available in CDO

By MARK FRANCISCO

THE yummiest homemade ice cream from Maramag, Bukidnon is now available here in Cagayan de Oro City.

Genovian Bakeshop, which is located at San Agustin Valley Homes in barangay Canitoan, is the exclusive distributor of all Meljoydee's variants here.

It was learned that Meljoydee's homemade ice cream has been enjoyed by patrons in Maramag, Bukidnon since 1980 due to its distinctive taste.

Homemade made ice cream is smoother and tastes fresher too. And because

you're not forced to use unhealthy levels of fat as you would with no churn ice creams, the flavors can come through stronger and brighter.

Meljoydee's comes in the following flavors: mango, ube, pandan, durian, strawberry, cookies & cream and chocolate in the following sizes: stick, cup, pint, one-half gallon and liter. They do sell ice buko, too.

For pickups (individual or via Maxim), Genovian Bakeshop is located at Block 2 Lot 2, San Agustin Valley Homes in front of Familia Apartments Building B.

You may reserve your orders ahead through 09656123733 anytime between sunrise to sundown

Mondays through Saturdays.

And while enjoying your yummy ice cream, don't forget too to pair it with